That dollar cost for worldwide coal imports reflects an 11.9% increase since 2017 when imported coal cost $133.2 billion and a 55.5% acceleration from 2020 when globally imported coal amounted to $95.9 billion.
The top 5 importers of coal are India, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan. Collectively, that cohort of leading coal importers bought almost two-thirds (64.7%) of the worldwide coal total.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of imported coal in 2021 with purchases amounting to $120.5 billion or 80.9% of the worldwide total. In second place were European importers at 13.3%.
Smaller percentages were sold to Latin America (3.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.4%), North America (0.8%) and Oceania (0.1%) led by New Caledonia and Australia.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2701 for coal and similar solid fuels made from coal.
Coal Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2021.
- India: US$25.7 billion (17.3% of total imported coal)
- Japan: $25.2 billion (16.9%)
- China: $22.9 billion (15.3%)
- South Korea: $14.5 billion (9.7%)
- Taiwan: $8.2 billion (5.5%)
- Germany: $5.2 billion (3.5%)
- Turkey: $4.1 billion (2.7%)
- Malaysia: $4 billion (2.7%)
- Vietnam: $3.2 billion (2.1%)
- Philippines: $2.9 billion (1.9%)
- Brazil: $2.8 billion (1.9%)
- Ukraine: $2.4 billion (1.6%)
- Pakistan: $2.32 billion (1.6%)
- Indonesia: $2.28 billion (1.5%)
- Netherlands: $1.8 billion (1.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 85.5% of all coal imported in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for coal from 2020 to 2021 were: Indonesia (up 152.2%), Netherlands (up 144.6%), Philippines (up 95.3%) and Germany (up 91.3%).
One top country posted a decline in its imported coal purchases namely Vietnam via its -11% reduction.
Major Coal and Related Imports into India
India’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$25.7 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which India imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Australia: US$11.2 billion (up 113.5% from 2020)
- Indonesia: $6 billion (up 23%)
- South Africa: $2.6 billion (up 17.6%)
- United States: $1.8 billion (up 55.5%)
- Russia: $1.1 billion (up 61%)
- Singapore: $955.4 million (up 157.2%)
- Mozambique: $730.7 million (up 102.3%)
- Canada: $440.7 million (up 3.4%)
- China: $417.1 million (up 3661.8%)
- Switzerland: $264.4 million (up 104.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $76.7 million (up 55.8%)
- Kazakhstan: $48.2 million (2020 data unavailable)
- Germany: $26.4 million (up 223.5%)
- New Zealand: $18.5 million (down -29.4%)
- Netherlands: $11.5 million (up 125%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.8% of coal imported by India in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to India from 2020 to 2021 were: China (up 3661.8%), Germany (up 223.5%), Singapore (up 157.2%) and the Netherlands (up 125%).
The lone top country that experienced a decline in the value of its coal supplied to Indian importers was New Zealand via a -29.4% drop.
Overall, the value of India’s imported coal rose by an average 62% from all supplying countries since 2020 when coal purchased cost $15.9 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into Japan
Japan’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$25.2 billion in 2021. Below are the top 14 suppliers from which Japan imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Australia: US$16.9 billion (up 76.3% from 2020)
- Indonesia: $2.9 billion (up 36.5%)
- Russia: $2.6 billion (up 41.1%)
- United States of America: $1.2 billion (up 18.1%)
- Canada: $1.1 billion (down -0.4%)
- China: $171.2 million (up 34%)
- Vietnam: $103.8 million (up 139.4%)
- Colombia: $101.6 million (up 36%)
- Mozambique: $70.3 million (up 285.7%)
- New Zealand: $60 million (up 47.6%)
- South Africa: $37.1 million (up 554.1%)
- Kazakhstan: $11 million (down -37.3%)
- Thailand: $682,000 (down -36.8%)
- Taiwan: $508,000 (down -24.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 100% of coal imported by Japan in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to Japan from 2020 to 2021 were: South Africa (up 554.1%), Mozambique (up 285.7%), Vietnam (up 139.4%) and Australia (up 76.3%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to Japanese importers included: Brazil (down -100%), Kazakhstan (down -37.3%), Thailand (down -36.8%) and Taiwan (down -24.7%).
Overall, the value of Japan’s imported coal expanded by an average 57.9% from all supplying countries since 2020 when coal purchased cost $15.9 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into China
China’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$16.4 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Australia: US$7.9 billion (down -15.4% from 2020)
- Indonesia: $3.1 billion (up 4.1%)
- Russia: $2.4 billion (down -4.9%)
- Mongolia: $2 billion (down -34.8%)
- Canada: $678.9 million (up 1%)
- United States: $112.8 million (down -28.5%)
- Colombia: $105.6 million (down -10.2%)
- Kazakhstan: $31.3 million (up 74.1%)
- Mozambique: $9.6 million (2020 data unavailable)
- New Zealand: $8.7 million (up 78.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $4.4 million (2020 data unavailable)
- Iran: $3.7 million (up 25.5%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $644,000 (down -86.3%)
- Malaysia: $371,000 (down -86.5%)
- Laos: $351,000 (down -66.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.998% of coal imported by China in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to China from 2020 to 2021 were: New Zealand (up 78.7%), Kazakhstan (up 74.1%), Iran (up 25.5%) and Indonesia (up 4.1%).
Countries that experienced double-digit declines in the value of their coal supplied to Chinese importers included: Malaysia (down -86.5%), Kyrgyzstan (down -86.3%), Laos (down -66.8%), Mongolia (down -34.8%), United States of America (down -28.5%), Australia (down -15.4%) then Colombia (down -10.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported coal shrank by an average -13.4% from all supplying countries since 2020 when coal purchased cost $18.9 billion.
Major Coal and Related Imports into South Korea
South Korea’s global purchases of imported coal totaled US$14.5 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which South Korea imported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Australia: US$7.8 billion (up 99.9% from 2020)
- Russia: $2.6 billion (up 30.9%)
- Indonesia: $1.7 billion (up 29.8%)
- Canada: $1.2 billion (down -0.1%)
- South Africa: $359 million (up 276.4%)
- United States of America: $304.2 million (down -26.4%)
- Colombia: $287.7 million (down -19.7%)
- Mozambique: $222.6 million (up 102%)
- China: $56.2 million (down -66.4%)
- New Zealand: $45.8 million (up 111.4%)
- Vietnam: $35.3 million (up 175.3%)
- Philippines: $26.7 million (up 884.7%)
- Denmark: $12.4 million (2020 data unavailable)
- Peru: $8.1 million (down -12.2%)
- India: $5.6 million (2020 data unavailable)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9999% of coal imported by South Korea in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of coal to South Korea from 2020 to 2021 were: Philippines (up 884.7%), South Africa (up 276.4%), Vietnam (up 175.3%) and New Zealand (up 111.4%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their coal supplied to South Korean importers included: India (down 0.0%), China (down -66.4%), United States of America (down -26.4%) and Colombia (down -19.7%).
Overall, the value of South Korea’s imported coal improved by an average 53.1% from all supplying countries since 2020 when coal purchased cost $9.5 billion.
Searchable List of Coal Importing Countries in 2021
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. The right-most column highlights the percentage change in value from 2020 to 2021
An entry of 0% in that column means that no value for 2020 was available.
| Rank | Importer | Coal Imports (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | India | $25,710,184,000 | +62% |
| 2. | Japan | $25,189,648,000 | +57.9% |
| 3. | China | $22,870,055,000 | +39.6% |
| 4. | South Korea | $14,524,133,000 | +53.1% |
| 5. | Taiwan | $8,195,030,000 | +65.7% |
| 6. | Germany | $5,204,085,000 | +91.3% |
| 7. | Turkey | $4,076,676,000 | +49.8% |
| 8. | Malaysia | $4,020,444,000 | +74.7% |
| 9. | Vietnam | $3,199,934,000 | -11% |
| 10. | Philippines | $2,886,880,000 | +95.3% |
| 11. | Brazil | $2,770,754,000 | +71.7% |
| 12. | Ukraine | $2,403,966,000 | +42.4% |
| 13. | Pakistan | $2,316,777,000 | +87.6% |
| 14. | Indonesia | $2,276,107,000 | +152.2% |
| 15. | Netherlands | $1,834,844,000 | +144.6% |
| 16. | Thailand | $1,817,985,000 | +37% |
| 17. | Poland | $1,484,467,000 | +42.4% |
| 18. | Italy | $1,414,642,000 | +114.1% |
| 19. | Chile | $1,339,693,000 | +97% |
| 20. | France | $1,191,776,000 | +38.3% |
| 21. | Morocco | $961,062,000 | +50.4% |
| 22. | Spain | $818,210,000 | +141.3% |
| 23. | Israel | $759,591,000 | +67.6% |
| 24. | Hong Kong | $709,063,000 | +139.9% |
| 25. | Belgium | $699,946,000 | +19.5% |
| 26. | United Kingdom | $655,668,000 | +57.2% |
| 27. | Czech Republic | $645,583,000 | +77.6% |
| 28. | Canada | $607,977,000 | +6.9% |
| 29. | Bangladesh | $586,498,000 | +49.6% |
| 30. | Slovakia | $517,234,000 | +65.7% |
| 31. | United States | $509,406,000 | +31.1% |
| 32. | Austria | $506,250,000 | +30.7% |
| 33. | Russia | $412,891,000 | +29.4% |
| 34. | South Africa | $395,659,000 | +85.8% |
| 35. | Sweden | $355,118,000 | +34.3% |
| 36. | Finland | $338,375,000 | +49.3% |
| 37. | Argentina | $323,632,000 | +141.1% |
| 38. | Cambodia | $293,389,000 | +30.8% |
| 39. | Dominican Republic | $288,167,000 | +103.7% |
| 40. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $281,234,000 | +55.3% |
| 41. | Guatemala | $260,779,000 | +77.6% |
| 42. | Ireland | $234,912,000 | +237.7% |
| 43. | Sri Lanka | $227,709,000 | +5.2% |
| 44. | Hungary | $227,590,000 | +36.9% |
| 45. | United Arab Emirates | $210,856,000 | -6.2% |
| 46. | Egypt | $185,583,000 | +202.6% |
| 47. | Brunei Darussalam | $138,762,000 | +110.7% |
| 48. | New Caledonia | $130,903,000 | +33.6% |
| 49. | Bulgaria | $113,547,000 | +78.1% |
| 50. | Norway | $108,915,000 | +51.3% |
| 51. | Mauritius | $100,605,000 | +66% |
| 52. | Kenya | $100,328,000 | +74.4% |
| 53. | Croatia | $95,823,000 | +161.7% |
| 54. | Senegal | $95,259,000 | +53.6% |
| 55. | Romania | $92,025,000 | +52.9% |
| 56. | Kazakhstan | $91,552,000 | +27.5% |
| 57. | Panama | $72,336,000 | +55.3% |
| 58. | Ethiopia | $67,706,000 | +18.4% |
| 59. | Uruguay | $67,197,000 | +3359750% |
| 60. | Mexico | $63,589,000 | -9.6% |
| 61. | Madagascar | $62,140,000 | +235.4% |
| 62. | Singapore | $60,504,000 | +77.8% |
| 63. | Nepal | $55,727,000 | -69.3% |
| 64. | Laos | $54,649,000 | +21.1% |
| 65. | Djibouti | $42,875,000 | +46.3% |
| 66. | Serbia | $42,634,000 | +80.2% |
| 67. | Iceland | $39,030,000 | +95.2% |
| 68. | Peru | $35,660,000 | +56.3% |
| 69. | Yemen | $32,506,000 | +14.7% |
| 70. | Timor-Leste | $31,778,000 | 0% |
| 71. | Greece | $31,375,000 | +36.3% |
| 72. | Uzbekistan | $31,243,000 | +16.6% |
| 73. | Togo | $29,289,000 | +25.4% |
| 74. | Kyrgyzstan | $27,819,000 | +137.8% |
| 75. | Saudi Arabia | $26,221,000 | +5.7% |
| 76. | Lithuania | $25,355,000 | +46.8% |
| 77. | Benin | $20,763,000 | +298% |
| 78. | Lebanon | $20,419,000 | +533.5% |
| 79. | Nigeria | $19,651,000 | +119.4% |
| 80. | Australia | $18,153,000 | -38.6% |
| 81. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $16,243,000 | -21.6% |
| 82. | Moldova | $16,200,000 | +16.6% |
| 83. | Kuwait | $13,242,000 | +40.2% |
| 84. | Jordan | $13,077,000 | -21% |
| 85. | Georgia | $8,993,000 | -40.5% |
| 86. | Zambia | $8,736,000 | +48.4% |
| 87. | Eswatini | $8,652,000 | -7.9% |
| 88. | Mozambique | $8,428,000 | +67% |
| 89. | Ghana | $8,213,000 | +984.9% |
| 90. | Denmark | $8,065,000 | +16.5% |
| 91. | Jamaica | $8,020,000 | +89.1% |
| 92. | Cyprus | $7,864,000 | +399.6% |
| 93. | Ecuador | $7,726,000 | +87% |
| 94. | New Zealand | $7,494,000 | +26.7% |
| 95. | Albania | $7,368,000 | 0% |
| 96. | Oman | $7,299,000 | -21.6% |
| 97. | Switzerland | $7,080,000 | +63.6% |
| 98. | Bhutan | $5,788,000 | +21.7% |
| 99. | Trinidad/Tobago | $5,565,000 | +4537.5% |
| 100. | Luxembourg | $4,949,000 | -18.9% |
The top 100 buyers of imported coal accounted for 99.9% of globally imported coal during 2021.
The fastest-growing importers of coal from 2020 to 2021 were Uruguay (up 3,359,750%), Trinidad and Tobago (up 4,538%), Ghana (up 984.9%), Lebanon (up 533.5%), Cyprus (up 399.6%), Benin (up 298%) then Ireland (up 237.7%).
See also Average Coal Prices Compared for Top Coal Exporters by Country, Coal Exports by Country, Japan’s Top Trading Partners and Japan’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 1, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 1, 2022
Wikipedia, Coal. Accessed on June 1, 2022
